It's no secret that the default mail app on iOS is not loaded with the same feature set that you get in Gmail. It doesn't have the advanced filtering. It doesn't offer any built-in keyboard shortcuts. It doesn't have "labels". It doesn't even have a "Priority Inbox". Yet I still prefer it over Gmail. Why is that? Because it's simple. Because it's elegant. Would I like more features? Yes. Of course I would. But with each iteration of the iOS platform, more of those those check boxes of wants are being checked off. In the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system, we were given:

* Better text formatting

* Advanced searching (including the body of a message)

* Message flagging

* Better mailbox management

My question is to you is, with this limited feature set, have you found a way to make it work for you in a way that is comparative to Gmail in terms of a speed and productivity?

Here are a few things I do to help make the most out of my iPhone Mail App experience:

2) I use flags as a replacement or alternative to the missing "Priority Inbox". I flag all email that requires action by me before the day's end.

3) I use a 3rd party app called Email Signature Pro which allows me to create custom html signatures with hot links and attached images. This allows me to attach different signatures according to the subject of the email and my relationship to the recipient.

Using these methods, I have been able to give up Gmail. I still use Gmail as a backup archive of all my mail by forwarding a copy of all incoming mail to that account. But for everything else, I find that Apple's email setup works and gets the job done.

What about you? What is your primary email solution? What features would you like to see in the next software update for iOS? Please comment below.